The Intoxicating Blogosphere - A Cautionary Tale

I really love to write. Preachers are supposed to like to golf - but I never was good enough to justify the the outlay of cash necessary to 'chase the little white ball'.

That's when I discovered blogging. A fun way to write, relax and even read and learn. But then comes comments - yes, actual people visiting one's blog and making comments about what you've written, positive, negative, it mattered not - it was readership! That's when I began to really delve into to the "blogosphere"! As it progressed I discovered a wonderful little idol called a 'counter'. This little device tracks and breaks down every single bit of traffic to your blog in so many ways it makes your head spin - and it's pretty cool. Then I discovered when I write on certain topics that interest me - my counter climbed! Cool! That meant more visitors coming to read what I've written, more comments. That was very cool. At least I thought.

Then it sort of hit me - and a commenter on another blog I think sums up this blog traffic 'high' by this statement they made:

"I have to admit I hadn’t spent too much time at ********** in the past few months, once I realized I was there simply for the “train wreck” appeal of it all. In some articles the prideful part of me would pop up and say, 'I would never do a thing like that!'"

And that is it indeed - the more contentious the topic - the more readers. Don't misunderstand, the topics I write and wrote about are things I am very passionate about, very concerned with and believe with all my heart and still do. And lets face it, not many care to read about my family vacation to Mackinac Island, or my children starting a new school.

The whole blog "gig" became rather intoxicating - and for me, rather wrong.

Here's what the Lord reminded me of yesterday: I am responsible for how people perceive me. I should do everything I can to make sure I am representing Jesus Christ and myself in the most accurate and the most Christ honoring way I can. This nearly led me to deleting this entire blog yesterday - and the reason is I honestly have no desire to argue with or be contentious with brothers in Christ. After being called some unsavory and hurtful things - I realized that how I was being perceived by some wasn't the real me.

The reason why lies in the very nature of electronic communication (blog, email, etc.). There is a very key component in this medium that is missing - TONE.

When one makes strong statements in communicating, tone can be your best friend. When preaching, strong statements come off much better because people can see the smile, see my tears, hear the concern in my voice, hear the humor - and it all makes sense and it is understood what kind of person I am and the spirit in which the message is delivered.

Sadly, people who only 'read' what I say electronically don't get to see or hear the above mentioned tonal qualities, which may lead some to conclusions about me that aren't true. Then some, armed with "Internet muscles" are glad to pull out the sword and use it on someone they've never met because they've rushed to conclusions about my heart and the spirit in which I deliver things that simply aren't true.

The solution? I remember that I'm responsible for how people perceive me - and now in this day and age that includes electronically.

So in that spirit, I back off, apologize to whomever I need to apologize to for coming across in a manner that was not my intent.

I make it a practice to evaluate criticism - if it has any merit, I receive it and repent - for the misguided hurtful criticism that has no merit - it's water off a ducks back.

The final analysis is that I set my face like flint to go after Jesus with more passion and more humility than ever before - I will continue holding my God given convictions and taking my stand for the Lord.